Gambling: The Moral Antithesis of Charity
by Phil Johnsono review one more time, these are the characteristics that define "gambling":Something valuable is placed at riskSomething belonging to someone else is staked as a prizeAn element of chance supposedly determines the outcomeAnd finally—4. In all gambling, wealth is either lost or changes hands; no new wealth or other benefit is created. Gambling violates every biblical principle o

Grateful for the goodness of creation (Thanks from Genesis 1:1, part four)
by Dan Phillips[Sorry, the RefTagger program messes up the title. In this fourth and final post in the Valerie-inspired series on thankfulness, we glean yet a bit more from Genesis 1:1.]Genesis 1:1 has shown us that God first produced the universe out of nothing.  Next we focused on the Creator/creature distinction; and

The Sin of Putting God to the Test
by Phil Johnsonere's a third characteristic of gambling. Remember, Gambling involves 1) Something valuable that is placed at risk; 2) Something belonging to someone else that is staked as a prize; and:3. Gambling involves an element of chance that supposedly determines the outcome. This is a practical denial of the doctrine of divine providence.God is sovereign over our prosperity. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, "It is [the Lord] that giveth thee power to get we

Grateful for the revelation of the one Creator God (Thanks from Genesis 1:1, part three)
by Dan Phillips[Sorry, the RefTagger program messes up the title. In this third Valerie-inspired series on thankfulness, we dig further in Genesis 1:1.]In our first reflection on Genesis 1:1, we saw that the words "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" teach us that God first produced the universe out of nothing.

A good question
by Phil JohnsonA reader sent me this excellent question:Do you think your principle ["if you merely participate in a gambling contest with a desire to win, you are guilty of coveting that which belongs to your neighbor"] applies exclusively to gambling, or does it apply to any and all forms of competitive activity? For example, if I enter a boxing match, or any other competitive activity, I am entering i